FaultScore

1988 Lincoln Town CAR acceleration problems

17 of the 123 complaints about the 1988 Lincoln Town CAR are about the throttle and cruise control — 14% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 98,500 miles.

F

17

Complaints

4

Crashes

1

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Vehicle Speed Control 14 82.4%
Accelerator Pedal 2 11.8%
Linkages 1 5.9%

Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Lincoln Town CAR year

1988 17 4.0%
1989 13 3.0%
1990 16 3.7%
1991 20 4.7%
1992 39 9.1%
1993 37 8.6%
1994 22 5.1%
1995 19 4.4%
1996 36 8.4%
1997 44 10.2%
2001 26 6.0%
2002 12 2.8%
2003 18 4.2%
2004 19 4.4%
2005 34 7.9%
2006 26 6.0%
2007 32 7.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 85,000 miles Freeland, MD

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 LINCOLN TOWNCAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CLIP FROM THE THROTTLE BODY FRACTURED AND ACCELERATED THE VEHICLE TO 80 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY CLIP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000. THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR CABLE HAD TO REPLACED. UPDATED 04/25/11

NHTSA complaint #10370429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marienville, PA Fire

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE LINCOLN TOWN CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE A RENTAL HOME AND CAUGHT FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10293199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bakersfield, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10066775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 112,000 miles Katy, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE RELAY THAT HOOKS TO THE BATTERY STARTER] BROKE. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO ACCLELERATE IN FULL THROTTLE. CONSUMER CAME TO A COMPLETED STOP, BUT HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO STOP THE ENGINE FROM RUNNING, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. RELAY # 1E9TZ-11450B.

NHTSA complaint #10024618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hamden, CT

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THROTTLE VALVE CONTROL CABLE GROMMET MADE OUT OF PLASTIC BROKE, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. MANUFACTURE ALSO PRODUCES A METAL GROMMET THAT WOULD LAST LONGER.

NHTSA complaint #865648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hamdon, CT Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY VEHICLE RAPIDLY SURGED BACKWARDS, AND THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR. CAUSE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #864366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Little ROC, AR 1 injured 1 killed

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ATTORNEY PETITION TO INVESTIGATE SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF 1988 LINCOLN TOWN CAR, WHICH ACCELERATED AND RESULTED IN DEATH OF ONE CHILD AND AMPUTATION OF OTHER CHILD. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER). MJS

NHTSA complaint #547625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cranston, RI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

ACCELERATOR PEDAL GETS STUCK. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #840900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

OLD Lauderhill, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

HAD GOTTEN IN VEHICLE TO START IT WHEN IT BEGAN TO SHIFT GEARS AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. HAD FOOT ON BRAKES AT THE TIME. THE WHEELS WERE SPINNING REAL FAST. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK.

NHTSA complaint #836154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Frederic, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WILL WITHOUT WARNING SPEED UP, OR WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #828320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Port Richey, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN AT A LIGHT OR TRYING TO PARK THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES.

NHTSA complaint #806582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Angeles, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DRIVING 25MPH APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE; PUT IN PARK IN ORDER TO COME TO A STOP; ALSO REPAIRED TRANSMISSION/OVERDRIVE.

NHTSA complaint #803397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Salesville, OH Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THROTTLE STUCK, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #506511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Patterson, NJ Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

AT A RED LIGHT, AS SOON AS FOOT WAS OFF THE BRAKE, CAR ACCELERATED, HIT BRAKES CAR WOULD NOT STOP, LET CAR RUN INTO RAMP TO STOP. PLESAE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #985569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pittsburg, PA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CONSUMER WAS WAITING AT DRIVE UP WINDOW CAR WENT INTO SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE CAR WAS IN PARK WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED . TT

NHTSA complaint #975274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pittsburgh, PA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CONSUMER STOPPED AT DRIVE THRU WINDOW STOP AND CAR ACCELERATED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT CAR WAS TOTALED . TT WINDSHIELD BROKE IN ACCIDENT. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #975075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Biloxi, MS

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THROTTLE BODY/AIR BY PASS FAILURE, RESULTED IN INTERMITTENT SUDDEN ACCLERATION, ALSO PREVENTED CRUISE CONTROL FROM DISENGAGING. *SKD

NHTSA complaint #480180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1988 Lincoln Town CAR problems

← Full 1988 Lincoln Town CAR report